Dialkyl dicarbonates as blowing agents for polymers

ABSTRACT

A method of using blowing agent compositions to produce foamed plastics such as polyurethanes, polyesters and the like, wherein a major auxiliary source of blowing agent for the foam is the decomposition of dialkyl dicarbonates. The dialkyl dicarbonates can be decomposed over temperatures ranging from about 10° C. to about 45° C. when used in combination with particular tertiary amine decomposition catalysts.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of our prior copending application Ser. No. 07/622,034, filed Dec. 4, 1990, issued July 9, 1991 as U.S. Pat. No. 5,030,664 and incorporated herein by reference, which is a divisional of our prior application Ser. No. 07/353,852, filed May 18, 1989, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,983,320.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention pertains to the use of dialkyl dicarbonates combined with decomposition catalysts as blowing agents for polymeric compositions which rapidly progress from a fluid to a rigid or dimensionally stable physical form over a time-temperature profile which is inadequate to provide substantial thermal decomposition of the dicarbonates.

Blowing agents are used in combination with polymers to produce polymeric foams. Polymeric foams having broad application include, for example, urethane forms, polyester foams, and foams comprising polyvinyl chloride. Blowing agents for polymers fall into two categories, chemical blowing agents and physical blowing agents. Commercially used chemical blowing agents are dominated by azodicarbonamide and physical blowing agents by chlorofluorocarbons and methylene dichloride; both of these compound types have toxicological and ecological problems associated with them.

It would be desirable to have a blowing agent for polymers which comprises carbon dioxide, since this blowing agent is non-toxic and environmentally acceptable. Many organic compounds when heated evolve carbon dioxide; unfortunately, the temperature at which this occurs precludes their use in many polymeric foaming applications. However, there are particular organic compounds which can be made to decompose, releasing carbon dioxide, at lower temperatures when used in combination with a suitable decomposition catalyst.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,573,232 to Kloeker et al., issued March 30, 1971, describes a process for the production of polyester foamed materials. A copolymerizable mixture of unsaturated polyesters and monomeric vinyl compound employs as a foaming agent a carbonic acid ester anhydride. A polyvalent metal compound is used as a catalyst to cause decomposition of the anhydride without the application of a substantial amount of heat.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,573,233 to Krefeid et al., issued March 30, 1971 discloses a process of producing foamed materials from a copolymerizable mixture of unsaturated polyesters and a monomeric polymerizable vinyl compound employing as a foaming agent a carbonic acid ester anhydride. Particular amine compounds consisting of a primary or an acyclic or cyclic secondary or an acyclic or cyclic tertiary amine with alkyl, alkenyl, or alkenyl radicals or its quaternary ammonium base or a primary or secondary N-monoaryl amine are used as catalysts to cause decomposition of the anhydride without the application of a substantial amount of heat.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,070,310 to Schneider et al., issued Jan. 24, 1978 describes the use of a process for the production of polyurethane foams preferably having a compact surface, in which process a mixture of polyisocyanates and compounds which liberate carbon dioxide under the catalytic influence of basic compounds is reacted with organic compounds containing hydrogen atoms which are reactive with isocyanate groups in a closed mould. The organic compounds containing reactive hydrogen atoms are mixed with basic compounds and/or have basic compounds chemically built into them; the reaction can be carried out in the presence of auxiliary agents and additives which are known in the chemistry of polyurethane foams. The reaction which generates carbon dioxide is carried out in the presence of water and/or organic blowing agent. The presence of the carbon dioxide increases the time period the foam is in a low viscosity state, thus improving the flow properties of the foamable mixture. The patent indicates in the paragraph bridging columns 2 and 3 that the compounds releasing carbon dioxide are not used as blowing agents and would be unsuitable as sole blowing agents.

The organic compounds which split off carbon dioxide under the catalytic influence of basic compounds include pyrocarbonic acid dimethyl ester, pyrocarbonic acid diethyl ester, pyrocarbonic acid dibutyl ester, pyrocarbonic acid dioctadecyl ester, acetic acid-carbonic acid ethyl ester anhydride, propionic acid-carbonic acid-ethyl ester anhydride, sebacic acid-bis (carbonic acid methyl ester)-anhydride, adipic acid bis-(carbonic acid methyl ester)-anhydride, crotonic acidcarbonic acid-methyl ester-anhydride and the like. The use of carbonic acid ester anhydrides or mixed anhydrides and basic compounds to produce carbon dioxide is said to be unsuitable as the sole blowing agent for the foam, particularly for moulded foam products.

Carbonic acid esters and ester anhydrides are used in combination with any inorganic or organic compounds which are basic in reaction, to produce the carbon dioxide. Examples of basic compounds used as decomposition catalysts include alkali metal hydroxide or alcoholates such as sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, sodium ethylate and potassium methylate and salts which are basic in reaction. Preferred basic compounds are tertiary amines. Examples of such amines include triethylamine, dimethylbenzylamine, permethylated diethylene triamine and triethylenediamine.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,110,273 to Cohnen et al., issued August 29, 1978 discloses a blowing agent composition consisting of 1,4 butan-diol-bis-(carbonic acid ester-benzoic acid anhydride) and silicon dioxide. The silicon dioxide is credited with reducing the decomposition temperature of the anhydride while increasing the yield of gas substantially. This blowing agent is used for foaming thermoplastics such as polycarbonates, polyesters, polyamides, and mixtures of polyphenylene ethers and polystyrene at temperatures ranging from about 160° C. to about 300° C.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,297,442 to Blahak, issued Oct. 27, 1981, describes cellular elastomeric foams produced by foaming a polyurethane or a polyurethane prepolymer crosslinked with a polyamine chain lengthening agent in the presence of an organic expanding agent containing at least in part a gas forming component which reacts with the polyamine chain lengthening agent or with the products of reaction thereof with polyisocyanates and split-off gas. The organic expanding agents include organic solvents and components that decompose at temperatures above room temperature (e.g. 55° C.), splitting off gases on decomposition. Examples of expanding agents which react with amine chain lengtheners or with the reaction product of the chain lengthener with polyisocyanates include dicarbonic acid dialkylesters, alkyl carbaminates and Leusche anhydrides.

French patent application, Publication No. 2,220,564, by Societe Nationale des Poudres et Explosifs, filed March 6, 1973 describes organic dicarbonates useful as blowing agents for plastic materials. Particularly the application pertains to the use of dicarbonates comprising a t-butyl group or two isopropyl groups, since these dicarbonates are said to be transformed almost completely into gas on decomposition, whereas other dicarbonates typically are not. In addition, the present of the t-butyl group is shown to provide a pronounced reduction in the decomposition temperature of the dicarbonate, with maximum gas production taking place at about 140° C. The subject matter of this publication provides background information helpful in understanding the present invention and is hereby incorporated by reference.

The majority of art cited above uses gas forming components which initiate the gas generation at temperatures only above about 90° C., with one example at about 55° C. However, there are numerous applications for which a foam generating component which is active at lower temperatures such as ambient (room) temperature is desired.

In addition to having a gas generating agent which functions at room temperatures, (over a range from about 10° C. to about 45° C.) it is important to have the time period required to create the foam be balanced with the polymer gelation time. The foam creation time period for the decomposition of pyrocarbonic acid esters and carbonic acid ester anhydrides at the processing (reaction) temperature of the polymeric composition is of critical importance in the production of foamed polymeric systems which rely on the decomposition process as a major source of blowing agent.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises compositions of matter and methods of using these compositions to produce foamed plastics, wherein a major, auxiliary source of blowing agent for the foam is the decomposition of dialkyl dicarbonates. In particular, the invention pertains to providing well defined decomposition of the dialkyl dicarbonates over the temperature range during which a crosslinking polymer system can be expanded. The dialkyl dicarbonates can be decomposed over temperatures ranging from about 10° C. to about 200° C. when used in combination with particular amine decomposition catalysts. Selected combinations of the alkyl substituent end groups of the dicarbonate molecule and particular decomposition catalysts have been discovered which enable foam creation for polymer systems which tend to change from a fluid to a dimensionally stable, foamed form over relatively short time periods (have a short gelation period), ranging from seconds to a few minutes (e.g. 25 sec. to about 3 min.), such as polyurethanes and unsaturated polyesters.

The invention can be applied to any initially fluid polymerization system provided that the rate at which the polymer is formed, and the rate at which it changes from a viscous fluid phase to a dimensionally stable solid phase, are compatible with the rate of gas evolution from the blowing agent system. A suitable polymer system would be one which after initiation goes from a fluid state to a stabilized solid form in a relatively short time (minutes) without the need to apply any external heat. Non-limiting examples of such systems are polyurethanes, polyisocyanurates, poly(imide-urethanes), unsaturated polyesters (and other such systems utilizing unsaturated monomers as solvent/reagent) and epoxies. Once a gel time has been determined the blowing agent composition can be adjusted, by careful selection of the components and their relative concentrations, to give the optimum evolution of gas within that time frame. The gas evolution should occur as the viscosity of the system is approaching the point of gelation to prevent premature loss of gas while the system is in a very fluid state. A thickening agent may be employed to adjust the initial viscosity of the monomer mixture if this is resulting in poor foam formation. Where it is possible to exercise some control over the rate of polymerization this can be used in conjunction with the controls of the blowing agent composition to further tune the reaction to obtain optimum foaming conditions. However, it is understood that the polymerization system should not contain any components that might significantly affect or interfere with the operation of the blowing agent system. That is, the polymerization reaction should not be inhibited by the presence of either the amine or the dicarbonate and should not contain components likely to react to any significant degree with the components of the blowing agent composition.

The dialkyl dicarbonates which perform well in the present invention are not limited to particular alkyl substituent groups and need not be symmetrical in composition. Typical dialkyl dicarbonates which have been decomposed successfully to produce carbon dioxide gas over the above temperature range include, for example, di-ethyl dicarbonate, di-isopropyl dicarbonate, di-isobutyl dicarbonate, t-butyl methyl dicarbonate, t-butyl ethyl dicarbonate and combinations thereof. Preferred dialkyl dicarbonates include di-isobutyl dicarbonate and t-butyl methyl dicarbonate, which perform especially well in polyurethane applications. It is preferred to use a tertiary substituent alkyl group, in cases when it is desired to take advantage of the thermal decomposition capability of such substituent groups. Halogenated substituent alkyl groups can be used when it is desired to incorporate halogens into the foam for thermal conductivity purposes. The preferred halogens are chlorine and fluorine, with fluorine being most preferred.

In addition, polydicarbonates containing a linking group joining dicarbonate groups, which enables the generation of two molecules of carbon dioxide per molecule of dicarbonate are particularly useful. The linking group is selected from groups having the formula:

    (CH.sub.2).sub.n ×(CH.sub.2).sub.m

wherein

n=1 to about 7

m=1 to about 6

and X= oxygen, sulfur or CH₂

Examples of polydicarbonates comprising a linking group which are expected to perform well in polyurethane foams include, for example, di t-butyl digol dicarbonate [diethylene glycol bis(t-butyl dicarbonic acid ester)]and di t-amyl digol dicarbonate, n-butyl t-butyl digol dicarbonate (diethylene glycol n-butyl t-butyl dicarbonic acid diester), t-butyl ethyl digol dicarbonate, t-butyl allyl digol dicarbonate, diisopropyl digol dicarbonate, isopropyl methyl digol dicarbonate and mixtures thereof.

The amines used to promote or catalyze decomposition of the dialkyl dicarbonates are selected from tertiary amines having at least one sterically accessible nitrogen which exhibits high nucleophilicity. Such tertiary amines include, for example, molecules having a bridgehead nitrogen wherein a cyclic structure has a nitrogen at the junction between two fused cyclic ring structures; tertiary 4-amino derivatives of pyridine; dimethyl alkyl amines; and poly dimethyl alkyl amines containing linking groups. Preferred examples of the tertiary amines referred to above include, respectively, triethylene diamine and quinuclidine; 4-(dimethyl amino) pyridine and 4-(4-methyl-1-piperidinyl)-pyridine; bis(2-dimethyl aminoethyl) ether, tetramethyl ethylene diamine and tetramethyl hexamethylene diamine; and 1,3,5-tris[3-(dimethylamino)propyl]hexahydro-s-triazine. Combinations of the kinds of decomposition catalysts described above can also be used, in particular to tailor decomposition rate over a given temperature profile.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The thermal decomposition of dicarbonates having the general structure: ##STR1## wherein R and R' are alkyl functional groups, has been studied and is considered to proceed via cleavage of an internal carbon oxygen bond followed by loss of carbon dioxide. The alkyl substituents affect both the temperature at which decomposition occurs and the gas yield. Thus, t-butyl and t-amyl dicarbonates decompose over a temperature range of about 100° to 195° C. with the liberation of three moles of gas (i.e., two moles carbon dioxide and one mole of an isoalkene) per mole of dicarbonate, whereas isopropyl and isobutyl dicarbonates decompose over a temperature range of about 180° to 250° C. and n-alkyls decompose over a range of about 200° to 220° C., both yielding only one mole of carbon dioxide gas per mole of dicarbonate. The facile decomposition of t-butyl dicarbonates is believed to be promoted by the formation of the t-butyl carbonium ion and its subsequent decomposition to isobutene.

The mechanism for dicarbonate catalyst-assisted room temperature decomposition has been discovered to differ very significantly from the mechanism of dicarbonate thermal decomposition, so that a quite unexpected combination of alkyl substituents and catalyst structure provides the most rapid formation of foam in a fluid polymeric system.

Polymeric systems which react rapidly over a period of a few seconds to a few minutes to produce a gelled, substantially rigid polymer structure include polymers such as polyurethanes and unsaturated polyesters. Fillers and other appropriate additives can be included in such polymeric systems. Although the present invention can be applied to any similar polymeric systems, the examples presented below are based on polyurethanes and polyesters.

Polymeric foam systems to which the invention is applicable include polyisocyanurates, phenolics, epoxies and poly(imide-urethanes). Polyisocyanurates are produced by the rearrangement and polymerization of isocyanates or polyisocyanates. The reaction is catalyzed by numerous reagents but the preferred catalysts are tertiary amines. A review of the technology used in the production of polyisocyanurate forms is given by Edgar E. Hardy in Plastic Foams Vol 1, Part 2, chapter 14 (Marcel Dekker Inc. 1973, Ed. K. C. Frisch and J. H. Saunders). In many ways the technology resembles that of polyurethane manufacture, in fact polyurethane foam machinery can be used for the production of polyisocyanurate foams. U.S Pat. 3,849,349 lists many amines that can be used in the manufacture of polyisocyanurate foams; included in that list are a number of amines also suitable for the decomposition of dicarbonates. To achieve optimum performance it may be necessary to use a combination of amines to effect the polymerization and also the simultaneous decomposition of the dicarbonate. However, it should be possible to adapt existing formulations for polyisocyanurate foams and to replace the chlorofluorocarbon blowing agents frequently used with the dicarbonate blowing system described herein.

Phenolic foams are traditionally prepared from resole resins using an acid catalyst to affect the cure. The method of producing such foams is amply described in standard texts such as:

Plastic Foams Vol 1, C. J. Benning (Wiley Interscience 1969), ch. 5;

Kirk-Othmer, Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, 3rd Ed., Vol 17, p. 411 (Wiley Interscience 1982);

Handbook of Foamed Plastics, R. J. Bender (Lake Publishing, 1965), p. 306; and

Plastic Foams Vol 1, Part 2, chapter 11 (Marcel Dekker

1973, Ed. K. C. Frisch and J. H. Saunders). More recently, a system for the rapid curing of phenolic resins at ambient temperatures using isocyanates and tertiary amines has been described by C. Thankachan in J. Coatings Tech. Vol 61 (769), 36-45, (1989) and references therein. Such curing systems should be useful in conjunction with dicarbonate blowing agents to produce phenolic foams. U.S. Pat. 3,271,331 also describes the use of tertiary amines as catalysts in the production of phenolic foams when crosslinking agents, notably diisocyanates, are incorporated.

Low temperature cured epoxy-resin foams are frequently cured with primary amines such as triethylenetetramine utilizing the ensuing exotherm to volatilize the physical blowing agent used. Thankachan in the previously cited reference describes the curing of epoxy resins with isocyanates and tertiary amines. The curing time is sufficiently rapid to indicate that such a system would be suitable for the production of epoxy-resin foams when used with dicarbonate blowing agents. U.S. Pat. 2,906,717 (3M Company) describes a resin formulation comprising an epoxy resin, an aldehyde resin and a polyisocyanate. Foaming is achieved by the addition of water to react with the excess isocyanate incorporated in the resin mix; curing is with an amine catalyst (including tertiary amines). Such resins should be well suited for use with the dicarbonate blowing agent system described herein.

Dandge and Kops described in J. Polym. Sci., Polym. Chem. Ed., vol 18, p. 355 (1980) the formation of a poly(imide-urethane). The rate of formation of the polymer is relatively slow but is greatly enhanced when quinuclidine is used to catalyze the reaction. Quinuclidine is also an excellent catalyst for the decomposition of dicarbonates. By careful selection of the dicarbonate and amine foaming of this novel resin should be possible.

Flexible polyurethane foams have been produced using the decomposition of dicarbonates as a major source of blowing agent. The principal source of blowing agent was typically from the reaction between water and isocyanate. The decomposition of dicarbonates contributed to softness of the flexible foam as well as to blowing of the foam. For example, the water-isocyanate reaction alone, in a flexible polyurethane foam formulation of the kind discussed subsequently, produces a polyurethane foam having a density of about 2 lb/ft³. Use of the dicarbonate decomposition reaction in combination with the water-isocyanate reaction produces a polyurethane foam having a highly desirable softness and a density of about 1.5 lb/ft³ or below. Dicarbonates investigated as blowing agents included diisobutyl dicarbonate, diisopropyl dicarbonate, diethyl dicarbonate, t-butyl methyl dicarbonate, t-amyl n-butyl dicarbonate, diethylene glycol bis(t-amyl dicarbonic acid ester), and diethylene glycol bis(t-butyl dicarbonic acid ester). Although several of these dicarbonates are symmetrical in functional alkyl groups, this is not a requirement for the composition of the present invention. The use of a t-butyl or t-amyl functional alkyl group does not decrease the temperature at which catalytically assisted decomposition of the dicarbonate begins; however, in applications where the reaction temperature of the polymer/foam mixture exceeds 100° C., it may be possible to benefit from some thermal decomposition of the dicarbonate with an accompanying liberation of two to three moles of gas per mole of dicarbonate.

The use of linking groups between the dicarbonate portions of two or more dicarbonate molecules enables the production of at least two molecules of carbon dioxide per molecule of the resulting polydicarbonate, as opposed to a single molecule of carbon dioxide per molecule of dicarbonate normally obtained when the linking group is not present. For example, a bis-dicarbonate would yield two moles of carbon dioxide. It can be advantageous to use such polydicarbonates in certain polymer compositions, since they are less volatile than the corresponding dicarbonates, and thus are less likely to be lost due to evaporation before they decompose. Furthermore, the linking groups can be selected to make the dicarbonate molecule more compatible with the polymer (e.g., more soluble therein).

Thus, by tailoring the dialkyl dicarbonate comprised molecule, it is possible to obtain the onset of catalyzed decomposition of the molecule at about room temperature, and to take advantage of the exothermic reaction of the polyurethane formation to achieve at least a limited amount of thermal decomposition when t-butyl, t-amyl or similar t-alkyl substituents are used.

It is important that at least the majority of the dicarbonate be catalytically decomposed prior to reaching the thermal decomposition temperature of the dicarbonate, when the polyurethane gelation-time profile is such that the polyurethane has reached a highly viscous form at the onset of thermal decomposition. A release of a large quantity of gas at this time can crack a relatively rigid foam structure. Thus, the dialkyl dicarbonate molecule must be tailored to perform properly with the particular polyurethane gelation reaction.

The cream time (time between the discharge of the polymeric/foam-producing ingredients from the foam head of a conventional foam manufacturing machine and the beginning of the foam rise) for formulations subsequently discussed typically ranged from about 5 seconds to about 8 seconds at room temperature. At the beginning of the foam rise, the surface of the polymeric/foam-producing liquid will change color, usually becoming lighter, due to evolution of the blowing agent. The rise time (time between the beginning of the foam rise, cream time, and the time at which the foam rise is complete) typically ranged between about 75 seconds and about 100 seconds at room temperature.

The term gel point or gelation as used herein means the reaction of the polymer system has progressed to the extent that the resulting polymer network is infinite within the foam. The term cure time as used herein means the length of time required for sufficient completion of reaction to generate the desired polymer strength and dimensional stability.

The decomposition catalyst used in combination with the dialkyl dicarbonate blowing agent must comprise an amine having particular structural characteristics wherein at least one nitrogen group is readily available for ease of reaction. Tertiary amines having at least one sterically accessible nitrogen which exhibits high nucleophilicity perform well as decomposition catalysts. Such tertiary amines include, for example, molecules having a bridgehead nitrogen, wherein a cyclic structure has a nitrogen at the junction between two fused cyclic ring structures (such as triethylene diamine and quinuclidine); tertiary 4-amino derivatives of pyridine (such as 4-(dimethyl amino) pyridine and 4-(4-methyl-1-piperidinyl)pyridine); dimethyl alkyl amines (such as bis(2-dimethyl aminoethyl) ether, tetramethyl ethylene diamine, and tetramethyl hexamethylene diamine); and polydimethyl alkyl amines containing linking groups (such as 1,3,5-tris[3-(dimethylamino)propyl]hexahydro-s-triazine). These particular amines are used because their structural characteristics enable them to catalyze the rapid decomposition of dialkyl dicarbonates at temperatures as low as 10° C. Other amines can enable the decomposition of dialkyl dicarbonates in the range of room temperature; however, the rate of decomposition is considerably slower so the ability of the catalyst/dicarbonate blowing agent combination to adequately perform with a polymer system which gels rapidly is reduced.

It is the combination of the dialkyl dicarbonate-based-blowing agent with the catalysts capable of providing rapid decomposition (e.g., greater than 100 ml/min./g. at decomposition temperature and atmospheric pressure) over a temperature range of about 10° C. to about 45° C., which provides the foaming system of the present invention.

EXAMPLES

Symmetrical dialkyl dicarbonates can be prepared for example by contacting an alkyl haloformate and an alkali metal carbonate in the presence of a crown ether and a suitable solvent. This synthesis technique is described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 4,929,748, assigned to the assignee of the present invention, which is hereby incorporated by reference. For example, di-isopropyl dicarbonate was prepared as follows:

A 1 liter, 3-necked flask was equipped with a reflux condenser, dropping funnel, thermometer, mechanical stirrer and calcium chloride drying tubes. The flask was charged with 70 g (0.51 mole) of powdered, anhydrous potassium carbonate; 2 g (0.0076 mole) 18-crown-6 ether and 250 ml of acetonitrile. The reaction mixture was efficiently stirred while 122.5 g (1 mole) of isopropyl chloroformate was added dropwise at such a rate as to maintain a reaction temperature of not more than 40° C. The reaction mixture was stirred for a total of 6 hours and then allowed to stand overnight prior to work up.

The reaction mixture was worked-up by filtering off the inorganic salts and removing the solvent on a rotary evaporator at 30° C. using a water aspirator to provide the vacuum. The resulting liquid was dissolved in 200-300 ml of dichloromethane and washed twice with 100 ml portions of water. After drying over magnesium sulphate, filtering, and stripping of solvent, 80.7 g of a clear liquid was obtained. Analysis by Carbon-13 NMR showed the crude product to consist of almost entirely di-isopropyl dicarbonate. Careful vacuum distillation of the crude product gave 77.4 g (0.41 mole) of pure di-isopropyl dicarbonate (boiling point 44-48° C. at 0.25 mm Hg; overall yield 82%).

Non-symmetrical or asymmetric dicarbonates were prepared using a standard procedure for synthesizing such mixed anhydrides, which is well known in the art (see French patent application, Publication No. 2,220,564 previously incorporated by reference), and therefore the procedure is not described in detail herein. Table 1, which follows, illustrates some of the dicarbonates made by this route. Products were purified by vacuum distillation where possible, otherwise they were left in a crude state.

                  TABLE 1                                                          ______________________________________                                          ##STR2##                                                                      wherein                                                                        R            R'                                                                ______________________________________                                         nBu          2-methoxy ethyl                                                   nBu          iPr                                                               nBu          nBu                                                               tBu          Me                                                                tBu          Et                                                                tBu          iPr                                                               tBu          nBu                                                               tBu          Allyl                                                             tBu          2-Ethylhexyl                                                      tAmyl        nBu                                                               tAmyl        iBu                                                               iBu          iBu                                                               2 × tBu.sup.1                                                                         CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 OCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2                              2 × iPr.sup.1                                                                         CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 OCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2                              2 × tAmyl.sup.1                                                                       CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 OCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2                              ______________________________________                                          .sup.1 Indicates two dicarbonate molecules containing alkyl groups R and       linked by linking group R' to form a bisdicarbonate.                     

EXAMPLE 1

Preliminary screening of dialkyl dicarbonate/catalyst systems for blowing agent activity in room-temperature initiated flexible polyurethane foam production was accomplished using a 1.25 lb/ft₃ density foam formulation similar to formulations used to produce furniture. Further evaluation was done using an automotive type formulation. Both formulations are given below in Table 2.

                  TABLE 2                                                          ______________________________________                                         FLEXIBLE POLYURETHANE FOAM FORMULATIONS                                                           Furniture                                                                               Automotive                                                            Formula  Formula                                                               Parts by Parts by                                           Component          Weight   Weight                                             ______________________________________                                         Niax 1656 Polyol   100.00   100.00                                             Niax L5740 Silicone                                                                               1.10     1.40                                               NEM Amine Catalyst 0.20     0.20                                               33 LV Amine Catalyst                                                                              0.30     0.30                                               T-10 50% Stannous Octoate                                                                         0.45     0.35                                               Dialkyl Dicarbonate                                                                               3.50     3.00                                               Water              4.50     3.85                                               TDI 80/20          58.95    51.45                                              Index (TDI)        112      111                                                ______________________________________                                    

The Polyol 1656® is a polyether polyol available from Union Carbide Corp. The L5740 Silicone® is an organo silicon available from Union Carbide Corp. which was used to stabilize the foam while the foam was rising. This surfactant affects the final cell structure of the foam. NEM Amine Catalyst® is an N-ethyl morpholine available from Texaco Chemicals. The NEM catalyst was used primarily to catalyze the isocyanate-water reaction and to produce urea linkages. The 33 LV Amine Catalyst® is a triethylenediamine available from Air Products Inc. This catalyst was used to decompose the dialkyl dicarbonate blowing agent, catalyze the isocyanate-water reaction, and to create linkages. T-10 50% Stannous Octoate® is available from Air Products Inc., and was used in the formulation as a catalyst to accelerate the Polyol/TDI (isocyanate) reaction. The dialkyl dicarbonate blowing agent most frequently used was di-isobutyl dicarbonate. Water was used in the formulation to react with isocyanate, generating amines and carbon dioxide gas. This amine subsequently reacts with additional isocyanate to yield urea linkages. The carbon dioxide gas generated by the water reaction provides blowing agent action, but was used in combination with the dicarbonate blowing agent to provide the total gaseous components necessary for foam formation. TDI 80/20® is a toluene di-isocyanate available from Mobay Chemical Co. which was used to react with the polyol to form urethane and to react with water and amines to form crosslinks with or branches from polyurethane molecules. The TDI index of the TDI 80/20 indicates the stoichiometry of the reaction, e.g., an index of 112 indicates that 12 percent more TDI than the necessary stoichiometric amount was used. The excess TDI contributes to additional crosslinking, and thus firmness of the foam.

Preliminary evaluation, in the form of individual laboratory batch foam production, required development of a method for mixing the formulation so the blowing agent would not decompose too early in the reaction, prior to substantial formation of reacted polyurethane. In the Furniture formulation, the dicarbonate was added with the TDI while the catalyst for decomposition of the dicarbonate was added to the mixture of other ingredients to which the TDI/dicarbonate mixture was subsequently added. In the Automotive Formulation, a polyol/dicarbonate premix was made, the stannous octoate polymerization catalyst was added to these ingredients while they were mixing and the water solution including silicon surfactant, NEM amine catalyst and 33LV amine catalyst were added simultaneously with the TDI at separate addition positions to the polyol/dicarbonate premix.

A typical manufacturing line would comprise equipment having a mixing head into which several individual ingredients can be added separately, mixed in the head and deposited immediately upon a surface outside the head. For purposes of manufacturing, it is preferred to use a single highly active amine catalyst such as the 33 LV Amine Catalyst to decompose the dicarbonate blowing agent, catalyze the isocyanate-water reaction and produce crosslinking linkages, simultaneously. However, a dual amine catalyst system can be used to tailor the foaming rate to the polyurethane reaction rate, specifically. In the dual catalyst system it is always necessary to have a highly active amine catalyst, e.g., 33 LV, present, with an optional amount of a lower activity amine catalyst, e.g., NEM.

Methylene chloride, a blowing agent commonly used in the industry, was used in place of the dicarbonate blowing agent in laboratory batch foam preparation using the formulations provided above, for comparative purposes. The methylene chloride was mixed into the polyol and other ingredients were subsequently added to the mixture. Presently urethane foam manufacturers are seeking a replacement for methylene chloride, which is considered to be a health hazard in the working environment.

In the Furniture Formulation, all the dicarbonates evaluated showed a blowing efficiency at least equivalent to methylene chloride. In the Automotive Formulation, the dicarbonates showed similar efficiency to methylene chloride but the foam produced was softer as indicated by indentation force deflection (IFD). Properties of the cured polyurethane foams produced using the automotive type formulations shown in Table 2 are provided in Table 3. In addition to the highly desirable softness characteristic of the foam, the chief advantage of the dicarbonate blowing agents is their desirability based on environmental considerations.

                                      TABLE 3                                      __________________________________________________________________________     Dicarbonates as Blowing Agents for Flexible Urethane Foam                      AUTOMOTIVE TYPE FORMULA                                                                               Density      Indentation                                                       Pounds Per                                                                           Breathability*                                                                        Force Compression                          Auxiliary              Cubic Ft.                                                                            Air Flow                                                                              Deflection                                                                           Set                                  Blowing Agent                                                                               Catalyst  (pcf) (cf/min)                                                                              (pounds)                                                                             Resistance                           __________________________________________________________________________     No Blowing Agent                                                                            --        1.42  4.5    32.1  Excellent                            Methylene Chloride                                                                          --        1.25  6.1    23.3  Excellent                            Diethyl dicarbonate                                                                         triethylene diamine                                                                      1.29  4.5    19.4  Poor                                 Diisopropyl dicarbonate                                                                     triethylene diamine                                                                      1.25  6.3    15.9  Good                                 Diisobutyl dicarbonate                                                                      triethylene diamine                                                                      1.26  6.5    16.9  Good                                 t-butylmethyl dicarbonate                                                                   triethylene diamine                                                                      1.29  5.9    17.2  Fair                                 __________________________________________________________________________      *An indication of foam porosity measured by passing air through the foam.

EXAMPLE 2

The catalyzed Dialkyl dicarbonate blowing agents have also been successfully used to produce rigid polyurethane foams. Di-isobutyl dicarbonate was investigated in a rigid polyurethane foam as described below; again symmetrical substituent groups on the dicarbonate blowing agent are not required. The catalysts used in combination with the dicarbonate blowing agent were triethylenediamine and Polycat 41 (described below). Acceptable foams were obtained with both catalysts.

Preliminary screening of the dicarbonate/catalyst system as a blowing agent for room-temperature initiated polyurethane foam production was accomplished using the rigid foam formulation shown in Table 4.

                  TABLE 4                                                          ______________________________________                                         RIGID POLYURETHANE FOAM FORMULATIONS                                                                       Dialkyl                                                            Standard    Dicarbonate                                                        Formulation Formulation                                        Component       Weight Percent                                                                             Weight Percent                                     ______________________________________                                         A Component                                                                    Mondur MR       50.2        50.2                                               Blowing Agent F-11B                                                                            1.5                                                            Dialkyl Dicarbonate         17.0                                               B Component                                                                    Polyol R 650    31.9        31.9                                               Surfactant DC 193                                                                              0.5         0.5                                                Polycat 41 Amine Catalyst                                                                      0.7         0.7                                                Tin Catalyst T-45                                                                              0.7         0.7                                                Blowing Agent F-11B                                                                            14.5                                                           ______________________________________                                          The Polyol R650 ® is an amine aromaticbased polyol available from          ARCO. The DC 193 Surfactant is a silicone available from Dow Corning Co.       Polycat 41 Amine Catalyst is 1,3,5tris [3(dimethylamino)propyl]                hexahydro-s-triazine, available from Air Products Corp. Mondur MR is a         polymeric isocyanate available from Mobay Chemical Co. and was used to         react with the polyol. Blowing Agent F11b is a monofluorotrichloromethane      available from Pennwalt Corp. The dialkyl dicarbonate used was diisobutyl      dicarbonate.                                                             

In the laboratory evaluation component A and component B were mixed separately and then the two components were mixed together. The density of the polyurethane foam produced using the formulations shown in Table 4 was 3 lb/ft³ in each case.

In another evaluation, the amount of F-11B blowing agent in Component B was reduced to 8 parts and the F-11B blowing agent in Component A was replaced with 3 parts of di-isobutyl dicarbonate. The foam produced using this mixture of blowing agents exhibited a density of about 3 lb/ft³. This latter combination of blowing agents permits a reduction in the amount of chlorofluorocarbon blowing agent used while providing a rigid polyurethane foam exhibiting heat transfer characteristics useful for insulation applications. As previously discussed, it is believed halogenated or polyhalogenated substituent alkyl groups on the dicarbonate molecule can be used to provide rigid polyurethane having heat transfer characteristics useful for insulation applications without the use of chlorofluorocarbon blowing agents.

POLYESTER FOAMS

Examples 3 to 6 illustrate the use of the blowing agent catalyst combinations of the invention in the production of both filled and unfilled foams from commercially available unsaturated polyester resins.

The gel time data was obtained using a Sunshine Gel-Time meter. The peak exotherms and cure times were determined by use of a type J thermocouple embedded in the resin sample. The cure time (time to peak exotherm) was determined as the time from when the peroxide was added to the resin until it reached its peak temperature.

EXAMPLE 3

Unfilled polyester foams were produced using Owens-Corning Fiberglas (OCF) 701 resin promoted with 0.6 wt. percent of a 1 percent solution of cobalt octoate. The formulation contained: Resin, 25g; dimethyl aniline (DMA), 0.064g; triethylenediamine (Dabco), 0.038g; Cadox M50, 0.40g; diisobutyl dicarbonate, 1.0g. The formulations were mixed, and the foams produced, in small (50ml) polypropylene cups. Typical gel times were 8-9 min, cure times 25-30 min and peak exotherm temperature of 130° C. Expansions were 50-100 percent based on foam height but the foams frequently exhibited splitting or cracks.

EXAMPLE 4

Filled polyester foams were produced using OCF 701 resin promoted with 1 wt. percent of a 1 percent solution of cobalt octoate. The formulation contained: Resin, 25g; calcium carbonate, 10g; dimethylaniline (DMA), 0.063g; triethylenediamine (Dabco), 0.042g; Cadox M50, 0.32g; diisobutyl dicarbonate, 1.0g. This produced a gel time of 13 minutes, a cure time of 30 minutes and a peak exotherm of 95° C. While the foams produced were satisfactory, filler loadings in excess of 25 wt. percent (total formulation weight) inhibited the full curing of the foam.

EXAMPLE 5

Filled polyester foams with uniform cell structure and exhibiting no splits or cracks were produced using Koppers 1060-5 resin Koppers 1060-5 is an orthophthalic resin promoted with 229 ppm of cobalt. The formulation contained: Resin, 25g; calcium carbonate, 25g; DMA, 0.01g; Dabco, 0.16g; Cadox M50, 0.40g; and diisobutyl dicarbonate, 0.50g. This gave a gel time of 7.5 minutes, a cure time of 21 minutes and a peak temperature of 72° C.; expansion was typically 150 percent.

The exclusion of DMA resulted in lengthening the gel time by 30 to 50 percent but did not prevent foaming or complete curing; cell size was slightly larger when DMA was excluded.

EXAMPLE 6

Filled polyester foams were produced from Koppers 1060-5 resin using a number of fillers. The foaming performance was found to be related to the viscosity of the formulation and also the particle size of the filler; e.g. with calcium carbonate or aluminum trihydrate a good form was obtained when the viscosity of the system (less initiator and Dabco) was greater than 1500 centipoise. This was achieved at filler loadings of 45 to 50 wt. percent with a particle size greater than 3 microns diameter. Fillers with average particle sizes less than 3 microns appeared to inhibit cure.

In unfilled systems it was found beneficial to adjust the viscosity of the resin by the addition of 1-2 wt. percent of fumed silica; this also acted as a source of nucleation centers for the evolved gas.

EXAMPLE 7

Examples 7 to 11 illustrate the effectiveness of the blowing agent-catalyst combinations of the invention in the production of thin section foams. Such foams are typically difficult to cure due to the relatively large specific surface areas, since distributing sufficient heat throughout the volume of the material to cure the resin is impaired by the exposed surface area.

A thin section filled polyester foam was produced using the following formulation:

    ______________________________________                                         Koppers 1060-5 resin    25     g                                               Dabco.sup.2 triethylenediamine                                                                         0.160  g                                               Dimethylaniline         0.011  g                                               Cadox M50.sup.3 initiator                                                                              0.458  g                                               Diisobutyl dicarbonate  0.502  g                                               DC193.sup.1 surfactant  0.259  g                                               Camel White CaCO.sub.3  25     g                                               ______________________________________                                          .sup.1 DC 193 is a surfactant manufactured by Dow Corning.                     .sup.2 Dabco is a trade name of Air Products, in this case it refers to        triethylenediamine.                                                            .sup.3 Cadox M50 is a methyl ethyl ketone peroxide initiator manufactured      by Akzo Chemicals Inc.                                                   

The components were mixed such that the peroxide and blowing agent were added last. The resulting formulation was poured into a mold to depth of 3/16". The foam gelled after 6.5 minutes and cured within 16 minutes with a peak exotherm of 71° C. An expansion from 3/16" to 5/16" was observed.

EXAMPLE 8

A thin section unfilled polyester foam was made using OCF resin # CX 2176 using the following formulation:

    ______________________________________                                         CX2176.sup.1           25     g                                                Interstab NL49P.sup.2  0.50   g                                                Dabco                  0.16   g                                                Cadox M50              0.26   g                                                Fumed silica           0.30   g                                                DC 193 surfactant      0.25   g                                                Diisobutyl dicarbonate 0.51   g                                                ______________________________________                                          .sup.1 CX2176 is a Dicyclopentadienebased resin of Owens Corning               Fiberglas.                                                                     .sup.2 Interstab NL49P is commercial cobalt accelerator supplied by Akzo       Chemicals Inc.                                                           

The components were mixed as before and poured into a 3 mm deep mold. Gel time was 2 minutes and cure time was approximately 4.5 minutes with a peak exotherm of 57° C. The expansion was approximately 100 percent.

EXAMPLE 9

A thin section unfilled polyester foam was made using OCF resin CX1704 in the following formulation:

    ______________________________________                                         OCF CX1704 resin.sup.1 25     g                                                Interstab NL49P        0.26   g                                                Dabco                  0.16   g                                                Cadox M50              0.33   g                                                Fumed silica           0.30   g                                                DC 193 surfactant      0.25   g                                                Diisobutyl dicarbonate 0.49   g                                                ______________________________________                                          .sup.1 OCF 1704 is a general purpose orthophthalic resin manufactured by       Owens Corning Fiberglas.                                                 

The reaction mixture was poured into a 3 mm mold and allowed to expand. The gel time was approximately 8.5 minutes, cure time 13.5 minutes and peak temperature 66° C. Expansion was approximately 100 percent.

EXAMPLE 10

Effect of filler particle in size in foam formulations: Example 10 illustrates the effect of filler particle size on cure and gel times when foaming filled systems.

Portions of filled polyester foams were prepared using the formulation below and fillers (CaCO₃ or aluminum trihydrate) of varying average particle size. Formulation:

    ______________________________________                                         Koppers 1060-5         25     g                                                Dabco                  0.16   g                                                DMA                    0.01   g                                                Cadox M50              0.40   g                                                Diisobutyl dicarbonate 0.50   g                                                Filler                 25     g                                                ______________________________________                                         Foam Preparation Results                                                             Particle Size  Gel Time Cure Time                                                                               Peak T                                  Filler                                                                               Av. diam., microns                                                                            min.     min.     °C.                              ______________________________________                                         CaCO.sub.3                                                                           16             5.5      9.5      92                                            3              6.2      15.6     88                                            1              25       --       <30                                     ATH   20             8.5      18.1     69                                            9              10.5     30       39                                            2              --       --       --                                      ______________________________________                                          ATH = Aluminum Trihydrate                                                

Clearly the particle size of the filler used affects the ability of the resin formulation to gel and cure, with both gel and cure times varying inversely with particle size. This in turn will have an effect on the foam forming performance of the formulation.

EXAMPLE 11 Viscosity/Loading Effects

Example 11 illustrates the effects of filler loading upon the mixture viscosity, and consequently upon the foaming performance of filled resins.

Koppers 1060-5 resin was mixed with various loadings of Camel White calcium carbonate and the viscosity of each mixture was measured using a Brookfield LVT viscometer with a #3 spindle @ 60 rpm. The results are indicated below.

    ______________________________________                                                          CaCO.sub.3                                                                             Init. visc./cps                                                                          Final visc./cps                             Resin/g                                                                               CaCO.sub.3 /g                                                                            % wt.   5 rotations                                                                              after 1 min.                                ______________________________________                                         250     50       16.7     456      456                                         250    100       28.6     740      632                                         250    150       37.5    1356      950                                         250    200       44.4    1970      1456                                        250    250       50.0    3400      3080                                        ______________________________________                                    

Using a formulation similar to that described in the performance was seen was at 37.5 percent filler loading.

Hypothetical Examples A to D EXAMPLE A

A rigid polyisocyanurate foam is prepared by adapting a formulation discussed in Plastic Foams, Frisch and Saunders, Vol. 1, Part. 2, Ch. 14 (p. 739) (Marcel Dekker, 1973). The resulting foam recipe, shown in the table below, involves the augmentation or replacement of at least a portion of the halocarbon with diisobutyl dicarbonate or another suitable blowing agent in Component A. In Component B, the triazine polymerization catalyst is augmented as necessary with triethylenediamine to catalyze the blowing agent as well.

    ______________________________________                                         Typical Formulation for the Preparation of                                     a Rigid Isocyanurate Foam.sup.1                                                Composition          Parts by weight                                           ______________________________________                                         Component A:                                                                   Fomrez R-420 (32.4% NCO.sup.4)                                                                      100.0                                                     Trichlorofluoromethane and/or                                                                       8.0                                                       Diisobutyl dicarbonate                                                         Silicone surfactant (alkyl siloxane-                                                                1.0                                                       polyoxyalkylene copolymer).sup.2                                               Component B:                                                                   N,N'N"-Tris(dimethylaminopropyl)                                                                    0.8                                                       sym-hexahydrotriazine                                                          Diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A.sup.3                                                               0.8                                                       ______________________________________                                          .sup.1 Data from Nicholes & Gmitter, J. Cell. Plastics 1,85 (1965).            .sup.2 Silicone L520, Silicones Division, Union Carbide Corp.                  .sup.3 DER-332, Dow Chemical Co. Cocatalysts for Polymerization.               .sup.4 Trademark of Witco Chemical for series of polyester and polyether       resins.                                                                  

The resulting discharge of carbon dioxide is sufficient to foam the crosslinking polymer, which is cured by the exothermic formulation of isocyanurates.

EXAMPLES B and C

These examples of foams produced from resins including combinations of melamine-formaldehyde or phenol formaldehyde resins with epoxy resins are adapted from Examples 2 and 3 of U.S. Pat. No. 2,906,717 by incorporating in the foam formulations suitable quantities of diisobutyl dicarbonate (or other suitable dialkyl dicarbonate) and a suitable tertiary amine catalyst such as triethylenediamine. The blowing agent of the invention thus augments, or may replace, the water/N-methyl morpholine blowing agent used in the patent examples.

As described in the patent, the improved cellular plastics of the present invention are produced by the reaction between an organic polyisocyanate and a combination or mixture of an epoxy resin and an aldehyde resin and the inclusion of an isocyanate foaming agent such as water, organic acids and anhydrides, and simple alcohols and ketones, and an amine catalyst. Water and amine catalysts are described as the preferred foaming agents. If one of the isocyanate foaming agents is not present, insufficient carbon dioxide is produced to form a low density product.

As a catalyst for the production of the foams, any amine or mixture of amine can be used. Primary, secondary and tertiary amines are included among those which can be employed as catalysts. The following are listed as illustrative: ethylenediamine, triethylamine, diethylenetriamine, piperidine, N-methyl morpholine, and 3 diethylaminopropylamine.

EXAMPLE B

10 parts by weight of a melamine-formaldehyde resin marketed by Rohm & Haas under the trade name Uformite QR 336, is dissolved in 10 parts by weight of an epoxy resin product of Bisphenol A and epichlorohydrin having an epoxide equivalent of about 150-210 and a molecular weight of about 350 marketed by Shell Chemical Corporation under the trade name Epon 828 with heat. To this is added with high speed agitation 10 parts by weight of Aerosol OT, a dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate emulsifier marketed by American Cyanamid Co. The foregoing mixture produced by the agitation is foamed by the addition of 0.3 part of water and 0.2 part of N-methyl morpholine, augmented by about 1 part diisobutyl dicarbonate and an effective amount of triethylenediamine as catalysts. The resulting rigid cellular plastic product has a density of about 3.7 pounds per cubic foot or less.

EXAMPLE C

5 parts by weight of a phenol-formaldehyde resin, marketed by the Bakelite Company under the trade name Bakelite BR No. 254, is melted in 15 parts by weight of an epoxy resin marketed by Houghton Laboratories under the trade name Hysol 6020. To this mixture is added with high speed agitation, 8 parts by weight of 2.4-tolylene diisocyanate and 0.1 part of the emulsifier employed in Example B until an even creamy textured mixture results. This mixture is foamed by the addition of 0.25 part by weight of water and 0.15 part of N-methyl morpholine, augmented by about 1 part diisobutyl dicarbonate and an effective amount of triethylenediamine as catalysts. The resulting rigid cellular product has a density of about 5 pounds per cubic foot or less.

EXAMPLE D

Foam samples are prepared from a novel polymer disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,836,491. The polymer is formed by crosslinking an hydroxybenzoic acid- (i.e., one in which the benzyl group benzene ring includes at least one hydroxy group, with or without additional substituents) capped prepolymer with a polyisocyanate in the presence of a tertiary amine. While the patent does not disclose the use of such polymers in foams, the gel time of 2 to 3 minutes and use of tertiary amine polymerization catalysts (which can also catalyze the blowing agents of the present invention) identify them as suitable polymers for foaming with these blowing agents.

First, a low molecular weight phenolic functional polyester is prepared from the ingredients listed below.

    ______________________________________                                         Component              Wt. percent                                             ______________________________________                                         Adipic acid (AA)       13.08                                                   Trimethylol propane (TMP)                                                                             24.00                                                                          37.08                                                   Water of esterification                                                                               3.22                                                                           33.86                                                   Methyl salicylate (MS) 108.85                                                  Dibutyltin ioxide (DBTO)                                                                              .72                                                                            143.43                                                  Methanol from transesterification                                                                     11.48                                                                          131.95                                                  Excess methyl salicylate                                                                              46.95                                                                          85.00                                                   Cellosolve acetate (CA) urethane grade                                                                15.00                                                                          100.00                                                  ______________________________________                                    

The AA and TMP are charged into a reactor equipped with an agitator, the thermometer, water trap, and condenser. The charge is slowly heated to a stirrable slurry under a nitrogen blanket. Heating is then continued to 335°-340° F. where the water of esterification begins distilling. Continuing heating to 480° F. esterification is continued to an acid value of less than 5. The reactor is cooled to 350° F. and the MS and DBTO are added. After inserting a fractionating column into the apparatus, the reactor is reheated to 365° F. where the methanol from transesterification begins distilling. Heating is continued to about 500° F. to complete the transesterification reaction. The reactor is cooled to 125° F., the water trapard-fractionating column are removed, and the apparatus is set up for vacuum distillation. The system is evacuated to about 0.05mm Hg gauge pressure and the reactor is reheated to 155 to 160° F. where the excess methyl salicylate begins distilling. Stripping is continued to a maximum temperature of 385° F. At this point 87 percent of the theoretical unreacted methyl salicylate has been removed. The reactor is cooled to about 300° F. and reduced to 85 percent nonvolatile with the CA. The product is used as the hydroxybenzoic acid capped hydroxy-containing polymer component in a capped polymer-polyisocynate coating system as indicated below.

A hydroxybenzoic acid capped hydroxy-containing polymer-polyisocyanate blend having a non-volatile content of about 70 percent was prepared by mixing at room temperature 43.6 grams of the product above and 56.4 grams of Mondur HC polyisocyanate. The polyisocyanate component is a light stable polyisocyanate solution of the following characteristics:

    ______________________________________                                         Appearance      Clear liquid.                                                  Solids Content  58.5-61.5%.                                                    Available NCO   11.0-11.6%                                                     Color           Gardner 2, Max.                                                Wt. per gallon  9.3 lb., 77° F.                                         Viscosity       750-1000 cps., 68° F.                                   Solvent         Cellosolve Acetate: Xylene (2 ? 15)                            Flash point:                                                                   (Open Cup)      110° F.                                                 (Closed Cup)    87° F.                                                  Avg. Equivalent Wt.                                                                            371.                                                           ______________________________________                                    

Considering only the phenolic hydroxyls of the hydroxybenzoic acid capped polymer, the theoretical hydroxy to isocyanate ratio of this blend is one to one. If the phenolic hydroxyls of the unreacted methyl salicylate are included, this ratio will be significantly higher. The viscosity of this blend is about 10 stokes. In air, the viscosity doubles in about 3 hours. However, in a nitrogen atmosphere, viscosity stability is at least 24 hours.

Using procedures similar to those in the preceding examples above, approximately 10 parts diisobutyl (or diisopropyl) dicarbonates per 100 parts are mixed into the polymer blend above. A sufficient quantity of triethylenediamine or other suitable tertiary amine (i.e., about 0.5 parts per 10 parts dicarbonate) is added to both cure the polymer blend and produce a foam. The resulting foam is formed in an open mold, trough or the like.

The hypothetical examples above illustrate that a wide variety of polymers which polymerize beginning at ambient temperatures and have suitable physical and chemical properties can be selected for foaming by the blowing agent-catalyst compositions of the present invention.

Only a limited number of preferred embodiments of the invention have been described above. However, one skilled in the art will recognize that numerous substitutions, modifications and alterations are permissible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as limited by the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of producing polymeric foams wherein at least one of the blowing agents used is a catalyzed blowing agent capable of generating carbon dioxide gas at about room temperature, said method comprising the steps of:(a) providing a crosslinking polymer system which can be changed from a fluid to a foamed form and incorporating at least one blowing agent comprising a dicarbonate having alkyl substituent end groups; (b) combining said dicarbonate compound with at least one dicarbonate decomposition catalyst comprising a tertiary amine having at least one sterically accessible nitrogen which exhibits nucleophilicity; and (c) using the combination of said blowing agent and said decomposition catalyst to initiate the generation of carbon dioxide gas at about room temperature to produce said foam.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein said combination of said blowing agent with said decomposition catalyst is tailored to the reaction rate of the polymeric reactants used to generate the polymeric portion of said foam, whereby the gelation of said polymeric portion of said foam and the generation of said carbon dioxide gas by said dicarbonate produces a polymeric foam having designated characteristics.
 3. The method of claim 2 wherein said crosslinking polymer system can be changed from a fluid to a foamed form in a time period ranging from about 25 seconds to about 3 minutes.
 4. The method of claim 2 wherein at least the majority of said dicarbonate compound is catalytically decomposed before reaching its thermal decomposition temperature.
 5. The method of claim 1 wherein said decomposition catalyst is selected from the group consisting of molecules having a bridgehead nitrogen, tertiary 4-amino derivatives of pyridine, dimethyl alkyl amines, poly dimethyl alkyl amines containing a linking group, and combinations thereof.
 6. The method of claim 1 wherein said blowing agent includes linking groups between the dicarbonate portions of at least two dicarbonate molecules to form polydicarbonates.
 7. The method of claim 1 wherein said alkyl substituent contains from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms.
 8. The method of claim 7 wherein said alkyl substituent is halogenated or polyhalogenated.
 9. The method of claim 7 wherein at least one of said alkyl substituent groups is a tertiary alkyl group.
 10. The method of claim 9 wherein linking groups are present between the dicarbonate portions of at least two dicarbonate molecules to form polydicarbonates.
 11. The method of claim 1 wherein said polymeric system comprises at least one filler.
 12. The method of claim 1 wherein said polymeric foam is a polyurethane foam produced according to a flexible formulation.
 13. The method of claim 1 wherein said polymeric foam is a polyurethane foam produced according to a rigid formulation.
 14. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one additional physical or chemical blowing agent is used in combination with said dicarbonate blowing agent.
 15. The method of claim 14 wherein said additional blowing agent is a physical blowing agent comprising a chlorofluorocarbon.
 16. The method of claim 14 wherein said additional blowing agent is a physical blowing agent comprising methylene chloride.
 17. The method of claim 14 wherein said additional blowing agent is a physical blowing agent comprising water.
 18. The method of claim 1 wherein said blowing agent and said decomposition catalyst provide gases comprising carbon dioxide as substantially the sole blowing agent to produce said foam.
 19. The method of claim 1 wherein said polymer system comprises at least one polyurethane.
 20. The method of claim 1 wherein said polymer system comprises at least one unsaturated polyester.
 21. The method of claim 1 wherein said polymer system comprises at least one polyisocyanurate.
 22. The method of claim 1 wherein said polymer system comprises at least one phenolic resole resin.
 23. The method of claim 1 wherein said polymer system comprises at least one epoxy resin.
 24. The method of claim 1 wherein said polymer system comprises at lease one poly(imide-urethane).
 25. The method of claim 1 wherein the polymeric foam is deposited upon a surface or in an unconfined mold.
 26. A method of producing polymeric foams wherein at least one of the blowing agents used is a catalyzed blowing agent capable of generating carbon dioxide gas at about room temperature, said method comprising the steps of:(a) providing a crosslinking polymer system comprising at least one unsaturated polyester and incorporating at least one blowing agent comprising a dicarbonate having alkyl substituent end groups; (b) combining said dicarbonate compound with at least one dicarbonate decomposition catalyst comprising a tertiary amine having at least one sterically accessible nitrogen which exhibits nucleophilicity; and (c) using the combination of said blowing agent and said decomposition catalyst to initiate the generation of carbon dioxide gas at about room temperature to produce said foam.
 27. The method of claim 26 wherein said crosslinking polymer system comprises at least one filler.
 28. The method of claim 26 wherein the polymeric foam is deposited upon a surface or in an unconfined mold.
 29. The method of claim 26 wherein said blowing agent and said decomposition catalyst provide gases comprising carbon dioxide as substantially the sole blowing agent to produce said foam. 